Spiked toilet leads to charges

CATSKILL — Three students were charged with felonies after allegedly placing lithium in a toilet at the Catskill Middle School.

The lithium created a chemical reaction that damaged the toilet and released flammable fumes.

The school was alerted after a student reported a “strong smell” in an upstairs bathroom at about 1:30 p.m Tuesday, according to a letter to parents from Catskill Superintendent Melissa A. Barrow.

The Catskill Fire Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Office and village of Catskill police responded, with police determining several students had put the lithium in the toilet.

Lithium reacts strongly with water, producing highly flammable hydrogen gas, though the gas did not ignite at the school.

The students had extracted the lithium from lithium batteries, according to Greene County Sheriff ’s Captain Tracey Bartlett, who said the incident happened toward the end of the school day.

Students were dismissed at the regular time, though they had to avoid the area near the bathroom while exiting.

The sheriff ’s office arrested three youths — a 13-year-old and two 12year-olds — charging them with arson, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and conspiracy, felonies, and unlawful possession of a noxious material, a misdemeanor.

The arson charge the three youths are facing carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but because of their age, their case will be seen in family court, which does not hand out prison sentences.

The youth were given appearance tickets and released to their parents, according to the sheriff’s office.

Students and staff “were never in any danger,” according to Barrow’s letter, and the incident will be handled according to the district’s code of conduct.

After-school activities went on, as usual, Tuesday afternoon, according to the superintendent.